1834
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Bachman's Warbler is a 1834 ink by Robert Havell Jr., a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture shows a branch heavy with glossy green leaves, white flowers, and a few red buds. Two small birds with yellow chests and black backs perch among the branches—one clinging to the leaves, the other standing on a twig. The colors are bright but soft, with careful shading on the flowers and feathers. The artist used fine lines and delicate shading to make the leaves and petals look almost real. This kind of detail was common in scientific illustrations of the time. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one created such precise images.
The Havell family of Reading, Berkshire, England, included a number of notable engravers, etchers and painters, as well as writers, publishers, educators, and musicians.
See the richer artist page
